Don Stephen Senanayake

Senanayake, Don Stephen (sĕnənäˈyəkə) [key], 1884–1952, prime minister (1947–52) of Ceylon (later Sri Lanka). He entered politics in 1922 and became a prominent leader before independence from Great Britain (1948), serving as minister of agriculture and lands (1931–47) and as leader of the council of state (1942–47). He was succeeded as prime minister by his son Dudley Senanayake, 1911–73, who had followed his father as minister of agriculture and lands (1947–52). Dudley Senanayake served three times as a right-of-center prime minister (1952–53, 1960, 1965–70) and led the opposition United National party in 1960–65.